The Cities of Refuge

As I mentioned in a prior post, there are times when reading the Bible you’ll come across something and ask yourself “what is that about?” Everything in the Bible is there for a reason. That means every name, every place, and every law has it’s place in the Bible for a reason.

In Numbers 35, there is the command of God to Moses to set up “cities of refuge.”

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall select for yourselves cities to be your cities of refuge, that the manslayer who has killed any person unintentionally may flee there. The cities shall be to you as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for trial…. These six cities shall be for refuge for the sons of Israel, and for the alien and for the sojourner among them; that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there…. The congregation shall deliver the manslayer from the hand of the blood avenger, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge to which he fled; and he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil.’” –Numbers 35:9-12, 15, 25.

The main points to these verses are:

1. The people were to select six cities.
2. These cities were for those persons who committed involuntary manslaughter, not murder.
3. These cities were to protect that person from the deceased person’s family from avenging the death.
4. These cities were to keep the manslayer alive until he could stand trial.
5. These cities were available to Jews, Gentiles, or any other person who was venturing through the land of Israel. They were for everyone.
6. The manslayer was “safe” until the death of the high priest. After the high priest dies, the manslayer is free.

It’s an interesting law, but what’s the point? Why go through such elaborate protections for involuntary manslaughter? Something to keep in mind is that the Old Testament is essentially the New Testament concealed. The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. Something else to keep in mind that unlocks seemingly strange or confusing items in the Old Testament, is to ask yourself: “How does this relate to Jesus?” Jesus Christ is the key that unlocks many mysteries in the Old Testament. This passage in Numbers is no exception.

Point number two above points out that the cities of refuge were for involuntary manslaughter. This is defined as not having an intention to kill or cause injury; it’s criminally negligent. How does this relate to Christ?

But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” –Luke 23:34

We’ve heard that statement many, many times before. But do we understand what he is really saying? We should now in light of the city of refuge law. Jesus is saying that we are all guilty of involuntary manslaughter from the standpoint that he is dying for our sins. But he is also saying that we are all criminally negligent. To see this in another light, In Acts, Peter says,

“And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.” –Acts 3:17-18.

Point three is that the cities were set up to protect the manslayer from the avenger of blood. Well, if we are guilty of manslaughter because of our sin, then unless Christ died for our sins, God must avenge the blood.  Stop for a moment and realize who our city of refuge is: it’s Jesus Christ. If we are in Christ (points three and four above), we are safe from the avenger of blood.

Point five is also significant. The cities of refuge were for all peoples. This means that the free gift of Christ’s salvation (and our refuge) is open to all!

Lastly, the manslayer–as long as he stays in the city of refuge–is safe until the high priest dies. Who is our great high priest?

Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. –Hebrews 2:17

That’s correct! It’s Christ. When Jesus died upon the cross he said something that completes this.

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. –John 19:30

In Greek, the phrase, “it is finished” is “Τετέλεσται” or “Tetelo” or “Tetelestai.” There a few uses of the word and it’s critical for our understanding of this. First, it was used in receipts for taxes, which meant “paid in full.” Also, after serving a jail sentence in ancient times, they would stamp you as this term, to signify that your debt has been paid in full.

This is the last word Jesus uttered before death upon the cross. He, in essence discharged us from our debts, our sins. There is no further atonement. There is nothing more for you or anyone else to do. Jesus paid the price in full for us. All we need to do is believe this and accept Him as our Lord and savior. May He Increase!

Tetelestai!